Blues 1 Eastbourne Borough 1

Vanarama National League South side Eastbourne Borough were the visitors to Victory Road for this FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round tie SPONSORED BY HAVEN LOGISTICS. With Eastbourne being a League above the Blues it looked like it would be a very hard fought game that could see either team come out on top writes Ollie Fairs. The Blues were unchanged from the midweek win at Sudbury and were looking to keep their good run of form going. For the vast majority of the first half both teams seemed to cancel each other out with both sides playing some good football but neither keeper was really put to the test. Leiston were very much the stronger looking of the two sides throughout the first 45 minutes and managed to often get into good attacking positions thanks to some nice passing play but they lacked that final bit of quality in the final third. Some of their best chances came from crosses, Matt Blake had a near post flick on well saved by the Eastbourne keeper and Jack Ainsley found himself free at the back post but could only put his header over the bar. The first half seemed destined to end goalless especially after the Blues saw three shots being blocked inside the box following a loose ball from a corner. Neither side will have felt they deserved to go into the break behind but Leiston boss Glenn Driver must have been the happier of the two managers at half time as Leiston definitely looked the stronger of the two sides. The second half offered much more in the way of the chances compared to the first with both teams doing their best to try to avoid a replay. Leiston continued to get into very good positions, particularly in the wide areas and their first chance saw a Patrick Brothers cross being whipped off the line by an Eastbourne defender. Eastbourne then had a few chances of their own when Tom Murphy put his shot from inside the box just over the bar and Ryan Worrall then had a volley from the edge of the box tipped over by Jacob Marsden. Leiston then had by far their best chance to date when Matt Blake was played through but his shot was just outside the post and Byron Lawrence was inches away from tapping it in himself. The Blues then had a penalty appeal denied by Referee Ian Fissenden which was perhaps a sign of what was to come. Leiston continued to create opportunities for themselves with second half substitute Joe Francis having a big impact while he was on the pitch. The game looked to be heading towards a replay when in the 87th minute a loss of concentration saw Eastbourne striker Elliot Romain brought down in the box by Jacob Marsden after he was sold short by a poor back pass. The penalty was then expertly converted by Nathaniel Pinney to put the visitors ahead with just minutes to go. However, there was still another twist in the tale when Regan Pelling made a brilliant run into the box before being clearly pulled down and won Leiston a penalty of their own in the 90th minute. Jack Ainsley stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly converted, placing his penalty into the bottom right hand corner of the net to draw the scores level again. Neither team had time to get the winning goal and the game ended 1-1 meaning the two teams will face each other again in a replay match to decide who progresses to the next round.

FT - Blues 1 Eastbourne Borough 1

Blues - Marsden, Brown, Dunbar, Ainsley, Jefford, Hutchings, Lawrence, Heath, Blake, Finch (Francis 66 mins), Brothers (Pelling 81 mins). Subs not used - Saker, Ottley-Gooch and Potter.

Eastbourne Borough - Horlock, Hare, Smith (Tate 75 mins) , Hughes, Simpemba, O'Reilly, Stone, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Murphy (Pinney 70 mins), Romain, Worrall (Baptista 63 mins). Subs not used - Street and Fellpath.

Match Sponsors HAVEN LOGISTICS Man of the Match - Byron Lawrence

Attendance - 212